Take note! New rule for CET candidates in Telangana, reach exam centres 15 minutes early

During a recent common entrance test conveners meeting convened by the TGCHE, it was decided to introduce 15-minute early entry into centre clause instead of one-minute rule

Hyderabad: Forget the one-minute late norm, the last reporting time for various common entrance tests, including the TG EAPCET commencing April 29, is 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the exam.

During a recent common entrance test conveners meeting convened by the Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE), it was decided to introduce the 15-minute early entry into the centre clause.

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This means the students must be inside the gates at least 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the examination and entry is barred after reporting time. So far, students arriving a minute late after the exam commencement were denied entry.

The exam officials justified the new clause in the interest of students pointing out the time it takes for registration and capturing of biometric details. Generally, the registration process takes about 5 to 10 minutes. Further, in some exam centres located in engineering colleges, the halls are located far from the main gates, taking at least five to seven minutes to reach.

“If students are to come at 9 am, they will take some five minutes to reach the halls and another five to 10 minutes for registration and biometric details capturing, leaving less time to take the exam. So it has been decided to introduce the 15-minute early clause in all entrance tests starting this year. No candidate will be allowed into centres after the reporting time,” officials said.

According to officials, this system was already in place in the Joint Entrance Examination, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-UG and Telangana Public Service Commission recruitment exams where the last reporting time is 30 minutes prior to the test commencement.

Another significant change in this year’s CETs is charges for challenging the preliminary answer keys. The TGCHE has decided to levy a charge of Rs 500 on each objection raised against the preliminary keys.

However, the fee will be refunded if the challenged answer key for a question is valid and accepted by the expert committee. The fee is aimed at curbing non-serious candidates registering a large number of objections against the preliminary keys.